Malaysia is looking to Japan’s waste separation and recycling practices as part of efforts to make environmentally responsible habits a normal part of daily life and accelerate the country’s transition towards a circular economy.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said Japan’s long-standing experience in waste management, particularly its practice of separating rubbish at source, could offer useful lessons for Malaysia.
“Japan is well known for its efficient waste management system and strong culture of cleanliness. In Japan, separating waste at source has become part of everyday life. This is something we can learn from,” he said in a statement today.
Nga stressed that efforts to build a cleaner society should begin from a young age, with children taught about waste separation, recycling and maintaining clean surroundings.
He said Malaysia and Japan are also set to strengthen cooperation in developing the circular economy and modernising waste management through a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both countries.
According to Nga, the MoU was approved by the Cabinet last month and is expected to encourage greater exchanges of expertise, technology and best practices between Malaysia and Japan.
He discussed the proposed cooperation during a courtesy visit to Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata at the ambassador’s official residence here today.
Malaysia has already introduced several initiatives to support its circular economy ambitions, including the National Circular Economy Blueprint and the establishment of the National Circular Economy Council (NCEC).
The Government has also made recycling facilities a licensing requirement for shopping malls while continuing efforts to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags.
“By combining Japan’s experience and technological expertise with Malaysia’s ongoing reforms, we can accelerate our transition towards cleaner, greener and more sustainable cities,” Nga said.
Meanwhile, Shikata invited the Malaysian delegation to attend GREEN×EXPO 2027 in Yokohama, which could provide further opportunities for both countries to explore cooperation in areas such as smart and sustainable cities.
The proposed collaboration comes as Malaysia seeks to strengthen public participation in recycling and waste reduction, with greater emphasis on making sustainable practices part of everyday life rather than relying solely on enforcement.
